Dismantling of a dam and restoring an ecosystem
February 21, 2018 4:02 PM   Subscribe

The restoration of the ecosystem in the Elwha River Undoing the dam to restore what’s good for all animals

What’s good for the fish is actually good for the people too.
posted by Yellow (11 comments total) 11 users marked this as a favorite
 
Previously: The Elwha River Comes Roaring Back & The Elwha River is free!, but this looks like a worthwhile extra perspective.
posted by ambrosen at 4:21 PM on February 21, 2018


Another article about something that happened, that literally doesn't describe what happen. The title says this is an article about the story of the removal of the dam, and it simply isn't. It's a somewhat interesting, but decidedly brief, story about the author, and his family, and his relationship to the project. Do other folks not also see this?
posted by humboldt32 at 4:39 PM on February 21, 2018 [1 favorite]


Here are a couple articles about the actual dam removal.

2014 National Geographic: World’s Largest Dam Removal Unleashes U.S. River After Century of Electric Production
As Washington State’s Elwha River runs free, a habitat for fish and wildlife is restored.

2016 National Geographic: River Revives After Largest Dam Removal in U.S. History
Fish are thriving and the environment has been reshaped following a major dam removal project in Washington State.
posted by ryanrs at 5:17 PM on February 21, 2018


freed sand means sandbars, and thus surf. Its beautiful.
posted by shaqlvaney at 6:03 PM on February 21, 2018


Butterflies drink from sand and water. Nice.
posted by Oyéah at 6:20 PM on February 21, 2018


Related, I've been working through and enjoying this book which covers a lot of the same themes, but down in Arizona where the author is from.
posted by MillMan at 6:21 PM on February 21, 2018


One of my favorite camping trips when I lived in Seattle was up the Elwha, above the lake.

I'd love to see the river now, with its salmon returning.
posted by hank at 6:54 PM on February 21, 2018


In a similar vein: How Wolves Change Rivers
posted by maxwelton at 7:00 PM on February 21, 2018 [2 favorites]


Habitat restoration is one of the few things that gives me genuine hope these days.
posted by lydhre at 6:07 AM on February 22, 2018 [2 favorites]


The FPP article is not the strongest, but I liked the focus on tribal culture as a reason for reconnecting habitat and restoring ecosystems. The tribes throughout the northwest have been huge players in both directly implementing habitat restoration and forcing federal and state agencies to do their part. It's a long way from perfect, but progress is being at least incrementally made.

There are a number of upcoming dam removals (including three big ones in the Klamath basin), so over the next decade or so this is a story we will hopefully be rereading many times. And lots of smaller barriers are being removed all the time -- it's not as sexy as removing a major mainstem dam, but the cumulative impact of removing tributary barriers (e.g., culverts, low-head irrigation dams, concrete weirs, etc) is impressive.

Currently Washington State Department of Transportation (and a few other agencies) are under court order, after being sued by tribes, to replace around 1000 fish-blocking culverts. They are dragging their feet, but at some point they will have to do the work and many more stream miles will be opened for passage.

One of the lessons, though, is that removing or replacing infrastructure is expensive. Sometimes it is simple and easy (like when you can punch some holes in a levee and leave the river to do the rest of the work), but usually it isn't, like with replacing culverts on state highways. People want the ecological benefits, but not everyone wants to pay the price.
posted by Dip Flash at 6:30 AM on February 22, 2018 [3 favorites]


freed sand means sandbars, and thus surf. Its beautiful.


There's no surf on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, sorry.
posted by humboldt32 at 9:18 AM on February 22, 2018


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